A former schoolteacher who indecently and sexually assaulted 19 victims over 25 years has been jailed for six and a half years at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Sharkey, aged 83, pleaded guilty to 132 sex offences ranging from indecent to sexual assault against 19 victims, aged between 7 and 16 years from 1970 until 1995.
Sharkey, a former teacher in Coleraine, Co Derry took many victims on trips to Donegal and Dublin for water sport activities, where he assaulted them.
A former organiser of an after-school club, Sharkey assaulted victims, with some incidents “of a very invasive nature” while they rested, slept and travelled, the court heard.
Judge John Alymer described the offences as premediated and predatory, involving a significant amount of grooming of the victims and a gross breach of trust.
He said Sharkey took advantage of the victims’ modest social circumstances, who were delighted with the opportunity of a holiday in Donegal.
“Most feel their lives have been completely blighted by your offending,” Judge Alymer told Sharkey.
The court broadly took the view that the offending was in the upper end of the scale due to the number of complainants and offences as well as the extent of the offences.
The court acknowledged a two-year sentence has been imposed on Sharkey in Northern Ireland involving three of the victims, where Sharkey served one year in custody and the second year on licence.
Judge Alymer sentenced Patrick Sharkey to seven years in prison with the final six months suspended.
No ‘genuine remorse’
Following sentencing, survivor Michael Bacon said the sentencing marks the end of a long and difficult chapter for both him and the other victims of Patrick Sharkey.
“As victims, we are relieved that the criminal proceedings are finally drawing to a close after many years.
“We welcome the outcome of this case and the fact that he has finally admitted responsibility for his actions. While he has pleaded guilty, nothing I have seen in court has suggested any genuine remorse.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Garda detectives who worked tirelessly on this investigation. Their commitment, professionalism and determination have been instrumental in bringing this case to justice.
“Today is also a time of reflection and sadness. Some victims are no longer here to witness this outcome, and for some, the abuse they suffered played a direct role in that reality. I hope their families can take some comfort in knowing that, while justice has been delayed, it has finally been achieved.”
No genuine remorse from Sharkey, says survivor Michael Bacon
Mr Bacon said significant questions remain unanswered adding that it was deeply troubling that a serial abuser was able to offend for decades without effective intervention.
“We are aware, along with other victims, that allegations were raised as far back as the 1980s but were not acted upon. Had those concerns been properly addressed at the time, many people may have been spared the suffering they later endured.
“We do not see today as the end of this journey. Rather, we see it as the beginning of a wider process of accountability and acknowledgement by those who were entrusted with safeguarding and protecting children,” Michael Bacon said.
In mitigation, Judge Alymer acknowledged that Sharkey came before the court on signed pleas of guilty, that he co-operated with the investigation, meeting Gardaí by arrangement, making some admissions, albeit limited and not coming to adverse attention since his last offence 28 years ago.
He said a risk assessment placed Sharkey at a moderate risk of reoffending, stating that age and health can be seen as mitigating against that.
He added that the court had to take cognisance of the fact that Sharkey was 83 years of age and suffers health problems.
Judge John Alymer began with a headline sentence of 14 years before taking mitigating circumstances into account.
‘A horrible monster’
During the sentencing heard, the court heard some of Patrick Sharkey victims could not live with the abuse they suffered while others attempted suicide.
State prosecutor Fiona Crawford, BL, outlined the details of the alleged abuse against boys, aged from seven years of age upwards at locations in Donegal and Dublin.
One victim said they were working class kids invited on “a big adventure” days before package holidays.
When they returned “they were victims of a paedophile”, he said.
The court heard victims suffered trauma, anxiety and depression as well alcohol, drugs, substance and gambling addictions in their adult lives as they struggled to cope.
One victim described Sharkey as a “horrible monster” who has left him “scarred and mentally tortured”.
“I attempted to commit suicide… I was a 12-year-old boy when this happened to me. This pain and fear will never leave me until I take my last breath,” he said.
‘Safety feels like a fantasy’
Another victim, who had “top grades” and planned to attend university, left school early as the trauma and taunting was too much, as Sharkey’s employment continued.
The victim said he battled anxiety, depression, alcohol addiction, suffered a marriage breakdown and often wonders who he could have been, if the abuse never happened.
“Every milestone I’ve missed, all traces back to what was done to me… safety feels like a fantasy… the damage is permanent,” his victim impact statement said.
Another complainant told Sharkey in his victim impact statement: “You told all of us we had potential; for you, it was never about helping us to succeed. It was about gaining our trust so you could abuse us.”
Many victims said they kept their stories hidden for decades, traumatised by what happened.
Sharkey was previously jailed for 12 months in Northern Ireland for indecently assaulting children in the 1980s and the 1990s.
Gardaí began an investigation following complaints of alleged abuse in the jurisdiction.
Sharkey was interviewed three times by gardaí in December 2024, February 2025 and May 2025.
He came before the court on a signed plea.
The alleged abuse followed a similar pattern over three decades – many said that they were assaulted before they went to sleep and while they slept.
One victim alleged that he awoke to discomfort and pain in a private area, while others awoke to being assaulted.
Another victim outlined when Sharkey tried to assault him, he caught a shoe and hit him with it.
Sharkey responded: “I thought you were gay and I was testing the waters.”
One man told the court in his victim impact statement that Sharkey destroyed him as a person and that it will give him relief, knowing that he will be behind bars.
“He is a horrible monster that used influence of power as a teacher to groom me … this has been such a horrible road to get to this point …”
“I cannot ever figure out why it happened to me.”
The man said the triggers in his adult life have been constant as he suffers recurring nightmares of the abuse from decades ago.
“I’m constantly reliving my attacks… waking up, screaming… as the monster in my dreams is abusing me.
“From my early teens until adulthood, I cannot ever figure out why it happened to me. Why did I let it happen? Why did I never fight back? The questions never leave you.
“The fear is the scariest thing I’ve ever had… It is like the world is frozen and my body had frozen with it.
“I attempted to commit suicide. I’m on antidepressant tablets… I had a gambling addiction to try and block out what I was feeling…,” he said.
The victim said while the pain will never leave, the support of counselling and his wife, has helped him navigate life.
“My wife has had to deal with my hurt and the self-destruction buttons that I was hitting… the counsellor tried to point out that it wasn’t my fault.
“If I didn’t have my wife in my life… I dread to think where I would be now. She is my rock. These feelings I will take to my grave,” he said.
Another victim whose statement was read into court by gardaí said he was sexually abused by someone who was supposed to guide him as his teacher, not exploit him.
“Safety feels like a fantasy… the damage is permanent… I did not get life I was supposed to have… It was the theft of my childhood and the destruction of my future.
“I hope my voice is heard for every person who suffered in silence,” he said.
Another victim said he wishes he could have spoken out when the abuse happened adding that he is grateful to those who spoke up, describing it as “their courage that helped us speak out”.
Another victim said the stories outlined in court were “probably the tip of the iceberg”.
“I don’t believe in God because if there was a God, he wouldn’t let it happen to that little child,” he said.
Another victim thanked family, friends and gardaí adding there were “no words in the world to define” how Sharkey destroyed his childhood and his adult life.
The victim said he was grateful that his children never gave up on him, when he gave up on himself.
He described Sharkey as a “predator” who befriended his family members.
“I want to thank you for staying alive long enough for this day to happen. My biggest fear is that you would die long before this day. Feel free to check out at any time,” the victim concluded.
Another victim who addressed Sharkey directly at the conclusion of his victim impact statement said: “I hope you rot in hell. This, I hope is the end of it”.
The court heard after Sharkey retired, he worked as a French guide for an Irish tourism company.
He retired permanently to France in 2006/2007.
When he returned to UK in May 2021, he was arrested on foot of warrants extending to complainants from Northern Ireland.
He served a sentence at Maghaberry Prison, having been jailed in Antrim Crown Court in 2023.
The victim’s legal representative of KRW Law Gary Duffy said the prison sentence sends an important message to victims that if they come forward, they will be heard and action taken.
“There is a shared sense of relief amongst victims that the criminal process has finally reached its conclusion.
“We commend the courage of victims in coming forward and engaging with the investigation that has ultimately led to today’s conviction,” Mr Duffy said.
He called on the PSNI to urgently engage with the victims of Patrick Sharkey and An Garda Síochána to assess if any further charges can be brought.
He said while the conclusion of the proceedings was an important milestone, serious questions remain as to how Sharkey was allowed to work in a school for more than 25 years,” Mr Duffy said.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, please visit rte.ie/helplines.